Three-year-old Anjana from the district, who was declared brain-dead on Saturday night after suffering from acute tumor, has become the youngest donor in the state.
Her family donated her liver, two kidneys and corneas to five-year-old Aninraj.
Anjana from Karakulam was admitted to the SAT hospital here in a critical condition on Thursday. She was declared brain-dead on Saturday morning. Soon after, her parents told the doctors at the SAT about donating the organs.
The doctors then contacted Mritasanjeevani, a government’s organ donation programme, and the officials at the organisation then contacted the parents of Aninraj, who was registered with them.
Soon after Anjana was declared brain-dead on Saturday, the harvesting of the organs began at 2 am in the night.
The retrieval surgery was over by 8 am on Sunday and the organs taken to KIMS hospital.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / August 03rd, 2015
Beads of various hues, strewn into beautiful necklaces, chains, and earrings are on display at the Museum Art Gallery here. The exhibition is being organised by Koottam.com on behalf of Preetha Attingal, who is paralysed from waist down since her school days. This is the second expo of Koottam.com, founded as a social networking forum for Keralites by N.S. Jyothikumar and Jeyamohan.
Preetha writes for the Koottam blog under the name ‘Snehapravahini.’ Her deep interest in jewellery prompted her Koottam friends to set up a small business for her. Beads from Varanasi are procured by a Koottam friend who resides in Mumbai. Preetha crafts pretty necklaces and earrings out of them, coming up with her own designs and methods. The price ranges from Rs.125 to Rs.600. The profits obtained from the sale will be added to Preetha’s next venture.
Koottam reaches out to many more talented and needy members. Preetha has been trained to manage the business too, says Sujatha Vinod Shanker, a mural artist. Rani and Renu Mohan, members of Koottam, are overseeing the exhibition. The exhibition, open from 10 a.m. every day, will go on till July 9.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Kerala / by A Correspondent / Thiruvananthapuram – July 09th, 2015
Pokku Moosa Maraykkar was a prosperous merchant of Poovar who had close links with the royals of erstwhile Travancore.
Pokku Moosa Maraykkar, a Muslim merchant who was instrumental in introducing young Kesava Pillai to Karthika Tirunal Rama Varma, is a name that is seldom remembered in popular history. Kesava Pillai began as an accountant in Pokku Moosa Maraykkar’s warehouse. Later, he became a trusted officer to the royals and rose to the position of Dewan. It is said that Raja Kesavadas, as he was later known, had a special place in his heart for his early mentor’s family.
Although Pokku Moosa Maraykkar’s name is often associated with Raja Kesavadas, it seems that Maraykkar was an important person who had sided with Marthanda Varma during one of the most turbulent phase in the history of erstwhile Travancore.
According to local lore, Pokku Moosa was a member of Valiya Kallaraikkal Veedu, a prominent family of traders who operated from Thengapattanam and Poovar. In 1918 A.D., Amshi K. Raman Pillai wrote about Raja Kesavadas and his association with Kallaraikkal Veedu.
Pillai is of the opinion that Maraykkar was the one who supplied goods to Valiya Kottaram in Thiruvananthapuram, and through this connection the merchant entered into the good books of the royals.
he existing wing of the old Kallaraikkal Veedu in Poovar./ Photo: Sharat Sunder Rajeev / The Hindu
Kallaraikkal Veedu, the ancient house of Pokku Moosa, was a landmark structure in Poovar. This structure has now been replaced by a concrete structure. However, local residents still associate the house with Marthanda Varma. It is said that when Marthanda Varma was hounded by the Ettuvettil Pillamar, he had once sought refuge at the Kallaraikkal Veedu in Poovar. Later, after he vanquished his enemies, Marthanda Varma bestowed the family with honours. The patriarchs of the family were granted the title of ‘Maraykkar’, and thereafter they were considered as nobles in their community.
Kallaraikkal family had a branch in Thengapattanam, where an old well, supposedly dug following the order of Raja Kesavadas, was spotted by Amshi K. Raman Pillai.
The ancient buildings associated with the family, unfortunately, fell prey to modernisation.
In Poovar, a stone’s throw away from the site of the Valiya Kallaraikkal Veedu is located a house of a family member who is struggling to keep up with the changing times.
“This house is more than 150 years old,” says Hassan Kannu who occupies the house. According to Hassan Kannu, in olden days the Kallaraikkal family owned many edifices in the locality and his house is perhaps one of the last to survive.
“This house had seen better days when my ancestors had enjoyed royal patronage,” says Hassan, “I still remember my elder brother’s nikâh, when a horse adorned with silver ornaments was sent from the royal stable to take the groom for the procession,” he adds. This tradition has been recorded by Raman Pillai in an article.
Pillared verandah opening to the inner yard of the existing wing of the old Kallaraikkal Veedu in Poovar /. Photo: Sharat Sunder Rajeev / The Hindu
The old house, Hassan explains, still retains some traces of its glorious past. The main entrance, a thick wooden door, opens to a spacious yard, with wide verandahs on either side. “Only a small fraction of the house still exists, the padippura, the nalakam, the courtyard wing, and other associated structures have been demolished to make way for new constructions,” says Hassan.
“I don’t know for how long I will be able to maintain the house, but I will do my best,” he adds with a smile.
[The author is a conservation architect and history buff]
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Hidden Histories / by Sharat Sunder Rajeev / Thiruvananthapuram – July 03rd, 2015
‘Latex Carry Backpack’, designed by students of Amal Jyothi College of Engineering, Kanjirapally, was adjudged the best project at the 10th National Innovation Contest- TechTop 2015 that concluded at the Mar Baselios College of Engineering and Technology (MBCET) here on Saturday.
The prize, instituted by Degree Controls, was awarded to Ajin Omanakuttan, Alen Anil, Mintu Elizabeth Shaji and Parameswaran S of Amal Jyothi College of Engineering by Governor P Sathasivam at the valedictory function. The prize comprise cash award of Rs one lakh.
Greeshma Unnikrishnan of IIT Mumbai won the second prize of Rs 50,000 for her project ‘Cost Effective Monitoring System for Intravenous.Infusion’, while the third prize (Rs 30,000) went to MBCET for their project called ‘Upasana: Diagnostic Toolkit for ASHA Workers.’
One of the highlights of TechTop this year was the Junior Innovation Challenge introduced for high school students. Of these, Placid Vidya Vihar School, Kottayam, won the top honors in the category, comprising cash prize of Rs 25,000, for the project ‘Easy Patient Transferring Machine’.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor P Sathasivam noted that entrepreneurship and innovation were crucial for economic growth of the country.
The Latex Carry Backpack, which won the first prize, aims to address a common issue that rubber tappers face when they transfer the milk from the tree to the containers.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / June 28th, 2015
Merin Joseph, the youngest IPS officer in the Kerala cadre, believes in the power of the youth
Is there anybody yet who hasn’t heard of Merin Joseph, the dashing young IPS officer who took social media by storm? Photos of her were circulating on Facebook and many declared that they wouldn’t mind being arrested by the “gorgeous officer”. Merin, however, brushes it aside casually. “As a civil servant, we are public figures. At the end of the day, we are in the public domain. I was just upset about the form in which it reached me. They (these posts) said that I had taken charge as the ACP, Kochi, and it was incorrect. I was still a trainee then and I clarified it as soon as possible,” she says.
The Assistant Superintendent of Police under training in Ernakulam Rural District, Chengammanad Station, says all the publicity, however, seems to be working in her favour. “Wherever I go to address people, I see that I have an interested audience. I feel I can get a message across effectively,” she says. The youngest IPS officer in the Kerala cadre (Merin is 25) will complete her training in September, after which she will be given independent sub-divisional charge.
At the lobby of the Government Guest House in Kochi, where she is sitting with her husband Dr. Chris Abraham, Merin doesn’t seem like the archetypal IPS officer; she is petite with rather soft hands. Her FB page reveals her love for the English language, so does a plastic bag full of books she has just bought. “I enjoy reading. It is one of the only hobbies that I can easily pursue,” she says.
Dressed in uniform, her hair tied back, Merin says she always wanted a dynamic job. IAS was a dream and IPS was second preference. Clearing the exam in the first chance in 2012 was not a big deal as she had streamlined her preparations. “It was a childhood dream and I had a focussed approach.” Merin completed her BA and MA in History from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, where her parents have been settled for over 35 years. Her father, who is from Ranni, is the Principal Advisor in the Ministry of Agriculture and her mother, from Kottayam, is an Economics teacher.
Coming back to the home cadre is a rare fortune few officers have, she says. “Compared to certain other places, Kerala is a relatively comfortable place to work in,” she says.
The third woman Malayali IPS officer in the Kerala cadre, after R. Sreelekha and B. Sandhya, Merin says IPS training does harden one’s soul. “You realise you are made of tougher material.” A typical day starts at about 4.45 a.m. and it involves running 4 to 5 km. Horse riding, weapons training, swimming, diving, 40-km route marches, jungle attachments, which means living in the jungle with bare minimum supplies and such are part of the deal. Initially, especially for those who are not athletically inclined, the rigours could be taxing. “Your body will resist and minor injuries are a given. But it lets you get over your fears.”
The profession is still very male-dominated, she says. “I am surrounded 99 per cent of the time by men. I have found that I may have to be slightly more assertive. That said, I have to admit my subordinates have accepted me well.” But the real challenge is in the domain of hardcore policing. “Being a good police officer, to be on call 24 hours, being there for people, is what I want to achieve.” Though she has not lived in Kerala, Merin has a working knowledge of Malayalam. She admits she isn’t proficient enough to give an entire speech in Malayalam yet.
Merin, who was selected from the Sardar Vallabhai Patel National Police Academy to lead the Indian delegation for the Y20 summit, an official youth engagement programme of the G20 countries, believes in the power of the youth. “We are tech savvy, we grew up in the age of the internet. And we need more young people in the services as the youth can bring in a breath of fresh air to the way Government departments function. We can change the system.”
The Ernakulam Rural SP Yathish Chandra, to whom Merin reports, had created a buzz on social media himself with his “Singham” style. “I guess it is because the level of exposure is much more for the younger officers. They are active on social media and perhaps, the youth feel they connect to them better. It is a good thing as we should be able to inspire the confidence of the public. I believe there is nothing wrong in looking good and being an icon as long as you are doing your job.”
Merin feels more women should come into the police. “The services have a lot to benefit from women coming in. Even as the job is seen as physically demanding and brutal, it is rewarding. I make sure I encourage young girls to consider joining the profession,” she says.
source : http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Anusuya Menon / Kochi – June 21st, 2015
Kuttichetan with his collection of books, mainly novels, at his home in Valya Thovala in Idukki
Idukki :
For octogenarian Kuttichetan, as he is known in his village Valiya Thovala near Kattappana here, books have always been his companions. Till day, he has not let anything come between them, even the truth that he is a school dropout. He does not need a pair of spectacles even at this age to read them. What makes Kuttichetan different from other book lovers is that he has been sharing his vast collection of books at his home with his villagers to enrich their cultural life.
Kuttichetan, aka Mathew C Mutholy, was dismissed from school when he was in Class IV for participating in a strike against C P Ramaswamy Iyer.
However, that never stopped him from having a tryst with letters. He started writing for children’s literary magazines, the likes of ‘Kuttikalude Deepika’, after dropping out from school. His love for books made him a good friend of yesteryear writers, editors and publishers such as Muttathu Varkey, Veloor Krishnankutty, K M Mathew and DC Kizhakkemuri.
Kuttichetan has a publication of his own, ‘Hill Desh,’ the Malayalam fortnightly which he began to publish from Kottayam in 1972. It is still being brought out at his village and has a circulation of 5,000 copies.
Kuttichetan, who worked as a Merchant Navy seaman for years, has seen almost all the countries except China which was not in good terms with India at that time. He also follows many foreign languages viz Italian, Latin, Japanese and German.
“Through books, I got acquainted with many places where I could not go. I want others also to explore unknown things, places, even feelings with the help of books. I find happiness in sharing my books, the only asset of my life which I can share with all,” says Kuttichettan who has the wholehearted support of his 75-year-old wife Mary and eight children.
Kuttichetan is now trying to set up a library in his own panchayat. With his initiative, four libraries were set up at Elikulam, Meloram, Iratayar and Bathel in 1947, 1954, 1963 and 1969 respectively.
However, he feels youngsters refrain from reading books. “May be because they have other means to gain knowledge,” says Kuttichetan who does not watch TV. The man, who finds happiness in sharing his collection with others, is a tad sad as some never returned his precious books.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Kerala / by Sruthi Paruthikad / June 19th, 2015
The Kudumbasree Mission is set to start a new innings in Idukki, with women at the wheel of autorickshaws.
Eighteen women in Thodupuzha will soon get their driving licence.
Shine M. Cyriac, assistant district mission coordinator, told The Hindu on Monday that the beneficiaries had been selected from Thodupuzha municipality and the grama panchayats of Karinkunnam, Karimannur, Udumpannur, Vannapuram, Purapuzha, Manakkad, and Arakulam.
If successful, the other grama panchayats too would soon have autorickshaws of the Kudumbasree Mission, he said.
“The mission runs a taxi service in Thriruvanathapuram, where it is a success,” he said. But Idukki, with greater tourism potential, has so far not introduced Shetaxis.
“Hence there is scope for women autorickshaws. These will ensure safe journey, especially for single women passengers,” he said.
Mr. Cyriac said Kudumbasree would provide training in driving and arrange for loans to purchase autorickshaws. The feasibility of introducing women drivers in other areas would be looked into, he said.
Shanty Avarchan of Manakkadu, a member of the mission, said she learnt driving as it would give an additional income to her family of four.
Jaya Pramod of Edavetty said she loved driving, like any other work, and it would be an additional income to support the family.
“For a poor family, an autorickshaw is always a bread-earner.”
Kudumbasree to provide training in driving
Feasibility of scheme in other districts to be studied
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Kerala / by Giji K. Raman / Kattappana – April 07th, 2015
The students of the mechanical engineering department have developed a trenching machine cum tiller which can be used by farmers cultivating banana, tapioca or vegetables. The machine which looks like two hands mowing the soil can be attached to an power tiller for multi-tasking in farming operations.
The tool was developed as a prototype based on the specifications by the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) which was looking for a farm tool to improve the efficiency of the existing tillers where the farmer has to seek assistance of a manual labour to finely dig the hole for planting a sapling.
“We ran the trials last week in front of the officials at the Agricultural Research Station (ARS) at Mannuthy who suggested some modifications and fine-tuning. That will be done fast and we will be ready with a commercial product soon,” said Ashwanth M P, one of the team members of Kinetic Tillers which has been incubated at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Cell (IEDC) of Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat).
Ashwanth and his friends, Jerish John, Aaron Tom, Lijesh Josy and Edwin Thomas who started work on the project last year developed it with feedback from farmers in Ernakulam when the final prototype was being readied.
Tilling is the most expensive and tedious work in farming and is mostly done manually using conventional tools or various machine powered technologies such as rotary tillers, cultivators, and disc harrows are used for tilling process. The manual process is very time consuming and has become too costly as well. A major limitation faced commonly in the rotary tillers is that soil becomes sticky when mixed with water, hence reducing the aeration (entering of air into the soil) which is harmful for young growing roots. Also, the inappropriate use of tillers leads to soil losing its organic matter affecting its fertility. Cultivators used for tilling at present are bulky in size, requires high power machines include, but are not limited to, tractors for pulling. Also, with the cultivators, depth of the soil to be tilled cannot be controlled, which affects its fertility and increases soil erosion.
“We are setting up a Centre of Excellence in agricultural research and farm mechanization is one of the focus areas. When such a need was discussed at the ARS, we decided to hand over the work to the Cusat students under IEDC. The concept has come out well. We are suggested some changes in blades and depth digging and asked them to get back to us with it,” said Prof U Jayakumar, Director, ARS.
The students however, want to go a step forward. Make it a cost-effective tool which even the middle-level farmer in Kerala can afford. “Right now, the price could cost about Rs 60,000 but we want to bring it further down,” said Ashwanth.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Kochi / by Sudha Nambudri, TNN / April 01st, 2015
Vamanapuram block panchayat president Baby Sulekha leading members of the Vamanapuram block in a procession kicking off ‘Mazhaneermahima’, a project which aims to carry out rainwater harvesting of pre-monsoon showers
Thiruvananthapuram :
Can rainwater harvesting of mango showers solve drinking water crisis this summer? The panchayats in Vamanapuram Block are attempting to do it, with ‘Mazhaneermahima’. The slogan of the rainwater harvesting project is ‘Let’s welcome the monsoon by harvesting rainwater.’
On Sunday, the project was kicked off with a ‘Mazhaneermahima Vilambara Yatra’, a procession from Vamanapuram block. ‘Mazhaneermahima’ is implemented as part of the Integrated Watershed Management Programme. The project lasts till May 21. In the first phase of the project, notices spreading awareness on water conservation and rainwater management were distributed in the houses in Nellanadu, Manikkal, Vamanapuram, Pullambara, Pangode and Kallara panchayats.
A group of people will visit 300-odd households in each panchayat to spread awareness.
Sunday’s event was inaugurated by Vamanapuram Block Panchayat president Baby Sulekha. Block secretary Sarina A Rahman, vice-president G Purushottaman Nair and various panchayat presidents in Vamanapuram block were present at ‘Mazhaneermahima Vilambara Yatra’.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Thiruvananthapuram / by Express News Service / April 06th, 2015
Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said ‘you cannot step twice into the same river’. Likewise, every time one climbs a mountain peak it is a different world out there, feels K V Manish Kumar, a casual labourer from Kannapuram here, who had conquered 12 Himalayan peaks over the last nine years.
An urge to do something different had landed Manish at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports, Manali, 10 years ago. During his maiden attempt in July 2006, he climbed the Friendship Peak in Pir Panjal range, followed by other peaks Frey Peak, Draupadi ka Danda, Gangothri, Nanda Devi and finally Khaktet in Ladakh, in February. The temperature was -34 degrees then, he remembers.
“Mountains taught me many things. I could meet new different people and learn about different types of plants and animals,” says the 35-year-old, who also feels that it’s high time we created awareness against global warming.
Manish makes it a point to sensitize public about the dangers of global warming through his expeditions. He also collects plastic wastes on the way to the peaks, making his expeditions a cleanliness drive.
Though he came face to face with death many a times, it has not deterred his spirit to climb the peaks. “While climbing down I leave behind such harrowing experiences and make up my mind to begin the next expedition After all, an expedition is all about successfully coming back,” he says. Manish has not received any recognition, not even a job offer so far, as he is not a professionally qualified mountaineer. His expeditions were not sponsored and his expenses are met by doing odd jobs like wood cutting.
“Though the state government is said to be promoting sports, I didn’t get any recognition and I too do not wish for any,” says the mountaineer. He is all set to go on a solo expedition in July. Also, he is planning to do a short-term course from Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, to become a qualified rock climbing judge and route setter.
“There are many peaks that are tougher to conquer than Everest, but still it’s my dream to be on the top of the world one day,” says Manish who cherishes the dream of scaling the Mt Everest.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Thiruvananthapuram / by P. Sudhakaran, TNN / March 30th, 2015
